Columbia Pictures is negotiating to finance Tonight, He Comes as a vehicle for the studio’s “Hitch” star Will Smith, reports Variety.

Jonathan Mostow will direct the story of a superhero who crash-lands in Sheepshead Bay, N.Y., and causes chaos as he romances a local housewife in an attempt to revitalize himself.

Written six years ago by Vincent Ngo, Tonight, He Comes has long been considered one of the better unmade scripts in town, says the trade. Michael Mann, who at one time was signed to direct, will produce the film with Akiva Goldsman.

Vince Gilligan (“The X-Files”) has already done a rewrite and will script another draft under Mostow’s supervision once the Columbia deal is finalized. A holiday 2006 release is being eyed.

Mostow is developing several projects, including an untitled Paramount thriller he wrote, as well as “Terminator 4″.